Pocket humidor



Aug. 6, 1935. J. B. RYAN POCKET HUMIDOR Original Filed Feb. 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ja/m flurry Zyazz ATTORNEYS Aug. 6, 1935. J. B. RYAN 2,010,440

POCKET HUMIDOR Original Filed Feb. 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John Barry 3 am Y Ma w ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 9, 1932, Serial No. 591,820

Renewed December 31, 1934 16 Claims.

This invention pertains generally to package holders or humidors and pertains more particularly to portable humidors.

In my co-pending application Serial Number 5 559,154, filed August 25, 1931, I have described a package holder or portable humidor adapted particularly for receiving and holdingv an ordinary package of cigarettes so that the contents will be maintained in a moist and fresh condition and can be readily withdrawn for use as desired.

The object of this invention is to provide a holder for cigarette packages and the like which will permit the package to be carried. in the pocket without becoming readily crushed permit ready access to the contents of the package to remove a portion thereof, and which is provided with means for holding a humidifying agent by which the package contents will be maintained moist and fresh, together with means forming a part of the holder for removing portions of the package not only to permit the humidifying agent to circulate through the contents of the package, but also to permitwitlidrawal of thecontents.

The improvement will be more readily understood upon reference to the drawings in which like reference characters are appended to like parts in the various figures, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my pocket humidor illustrating the improvement as applied thereto.

v Figure 2 is a view showing the pocket humidor disassembled.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the means for removing the bottom of the package of cigarettes.

Figure 4. is a perspective view illustrating the manner of removing the top of a package of cigarettes.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a modlfication of the invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a further modification of the invention.

Referringto the drawings,at I is shown my pocket humidor comprising upper and lower bands II and I2 respectively, said bands being more or less rectangular in shape and conforming more or. less to the shape of the outer surface of a package of cigarettes. Bands l l and 12 are shown joined by a plurality of spaced U-shaped members 13 having their ends attached to the band I l and secured to the band l2 at spaced points in a manner so that the bar of each U depends slightly below the band l2 for purposes which will hereinafter appear.

To complete the 55 skeleton framework rods 14 joined to bands H and I2 may be provided as shown.

' The band II is shown provided with a large cover l and a small cover l6 hinged to a longer side thereof, the covers being adapted to com- 5 pletely cover the rectangular area defined by the band ll. Each cover is shown provided with a spring latch l1 adapted to engage a projection l8 on the band I I to hold the covers in closed position. The various parts are so formed and proportioned that a package of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco or the like may be inserted in the holder substantially completely filling the same.

The devices above described may be used to carry packages of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco and 15 the like and prevent the said packages from becoming accidentally crushed. In use, the package is inserted in the skeleton framework holder as above described and the top of the package or the portion which would be covered by the small cover I5 is torn off and the cover is closed. When it is desired to extract any of the contents from the package, the small cover only need be opened and the contents removed by shaking or other method without removing the package as a whole.

While the above described skeleton framework construction may be used as a finished product, the skeleton framework preferably is used in combination with features hereinafter described.

In the preferred construction the package is supported on a perforated plate 19 which in turn rests upon the bars 20 of U shaped members l3.

. A cup shaped member 2| of rectangular contour fits over the ends of U shaped members l3 and is secured to the band l2 by any suitable means such as hook-like members 22 spaced along the top of one of the longer sides and a spring detent or latch 23 secured to the top of .the other long side. Suflicient space is provided between the bottom of member 2| and the bars 20 to accommodate a humidifying agent 24 which may, for instance, be a slice of an apple, of a. potato, etc.

The end of the package of cigarettes in contact with the perforated plate 19 is removed to permit the humidifying vapors to permeate the cigarettes.

Means are provided for removing the bottom and, if desired, any portion of the top of the package of cigarettes 25. Such means comprises the sharpened end 26 with which the perforated plate I9 is provided, this arrangement being disclosed more particularly in Figs. 2 to 6. r

The operation of the device is as follows. The package of cigarettes 25 is placed in the skeleton framework with the member 2| and the perforated plate I9 removed. If desired the plate I9 with its sharpened end 26 may be used to remove any portion of the top of the package, for instance that portion positioned under the cover I6, inasmuch as at least this portion is generally removed so that the cigarettes may be withdrawn as desired by merely raising cover I6. However, the whole top of the package may be removed if desired.

The manipulation of the plate I9 is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein plate I9 is shown as sliding along the top of band II as a guide. If cover I5 is later closed as shown in dotted lines, it serves as a guide for tearing the portion falling under cover I6 transversely of the package after it has first been cut loose around three sides of the plate I9.

If the cover I5 is open as shown in full lines the plate I9 may be shoved along the full length of band I I to remove the entire top of package 25.

Cover I6, and I5 if it is open, may then be closed. Plate I9 is then inserted into position. In inserting the plate I9 the sharpened edge 26 cuts away the bottom of the package by the manipulation illustrated in Figure 3, in which the end of band I2 may be used as a guide. After plate I9 is shoved home, the bottom of the package which has been substantially entirely removed by the cutting action of the plate I9, may be withdrawn with the fingers.

Plate I9 being in position, the member 2I carrying the humidifying agent 24 may be attached to the band I2 in the regular way.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a modification of the invention in which an additional U-shaped member 21 is provided, said U-shaped member 21 shown depending from the band I2 at an end thereof. The spacing of bar 28 of U-shaped member 21 is just sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the plate I9.

In operation the bar 28 and the end of band I2 act as a guide for the member I9 and assist in the alignment of the cutting edge 26.

If desired both ends of band I2 may be provided with U-shaped members 21 so that the plate I9 may be inserted from either end.

In Figure 6 I have shown band I2 enclosed within the legs of U-shaped members I3. In this instance band I2 acts as a guide in a manner similar to band I I inasmuch as the end of the package protrudes just slightly beyond band I2 when held in the framework. Sufiicient clearance is provided between bars 20 and band I2 so that the end of the package may be withdrawn after plate I9 has been inserted into position and has cut the end of the package away.

The novel improvement herein set forth makes it possible to have in one compact structure all of the appurtenances which are required in the ordinary use of the pocket humidor. It provides novel and easy means for the removal of the desired portions of the packages used therewith.

While the invention has been described in connection with a package of cigarettes, it is to be strictly understood that this is purely for the purpose of illustration and that the invention is applicable to packages of any character, size or shape.

The end 26 of plate I9 may have any shape consistent with the results desired such as arcuate. angular, straight, etc.

It will be appreciated that the construction above described provides a device for holding packages to keep them from being readily crushed and damaged and for maintaining the contents thereof in moist and sweet condition and which a is simple and sturdy and may be cheaply and easily manufactured. Also, the humidifier parts, being of simple construction and readily detachvable, may be easily and quickly cleaned and repaired. The device may'be'sold as a complete entity or the various parts may be separately sold in unassembled condition and assembled by the purchaser.

Having described my invention it is obvious that many modifications may be made in the same within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A package holder comprising a skeleton framework open at its upper and lower ends and having encircling bands adjacent each end, a cover hinged to said upper band for closing the upper end of the holder, and a box-like member into which the lower end of the holder projects, said member being detachably connected to said lower band and extending above the lower end of a package contained in the holder.

2. A package holder. comprising a skeleton framework having a perforated lower end for supporting a package and permitting access of humidifying gas to the contents of said package, and a box-like member into which the lower end of the holder projects, said member being detachably connected to said holder and extending above the lower end of a package contained in the holder.

3. A package holder comprising an upper and a lower band, longitudinal members connecting said bands, a cover hinged to said upper band and adapted to close the top of said holder, cross members connecting the front and back of the lower band, and a box-like member into which the lower end of the holder projects, said member being detachably connected to the lower band and being adapted to hold a humidifying substance.

4. A package holder comprising an upper and a lower band, longitudinal members connecting said bands, a cover hinged to said upper band and adapted to close the top of said holder, cross members connecting the front and back of the lower band, a perforated plate resting onsaid cross members and adapted to support a package contained in said holder, and a box-like member into which the lower end of the holder projects, said member being detachably secured to the lower ban-d to enclose the perforated member and being adapted to hold a humidifying substance.

5. A package holder comprising an upper and a lower band, longitudinal members connecting said hands, a cover hinged to said upper band and adapted to close the top of said holder, cross members connecting the front and back of the lower band, a perforated plate removably supported by said cross members and being adapted to support a package contained in said holder, a box-like member detachably secured to the lower band to enclose the perforated member and being adapted to hold a humidifying substance, said perforated plate being provided with cutting means for detaching the end of said package upon being inserted into position.

6. A package holder comprising an upper and a lower band, longitudinal members connecting said bands, 2. cover hinged to said upper band and adapted to close the top of said holder, cross members connecting the front and back of the lower band, a perforated plate removably supported by said cross members and being adapted to support package contained in said holder, a box-like member detachably secured to the lower band to enclose the perforated member and being adapted to hold a humidifying substance, said perforated plate being provided with cutting means for detaching the end of said package upon being inserted into position, and guide means for said plate.

7. A holder for packages comprising a box-like skeleton frame open at the upper end, a cover closing said open end, and a humidifying device secured to the lower end of the box-like member, said humidifying device enclosing the lower end of said box-like member in a manner to discharge its vapors up into said skeleton frame and into a package held thereby.

8. A holder for packages comprising an upper band and a lower band, posts connecting the bands at the sides and U-shaped members connecting the lower band at the front and back with the horizontal portions thereof extending appreciably below the lower band, and a box-like member open at the top secured to the lower band and adapted to hold a humidifying substance.

9. A holder for packages comprising an upper band and a lower band, posts connecting the bands at the sides and, U-shaped members connecting the lower band at the front and back with the horizontal portions thereof extending appreciably below the lower band, a perforated plate resting loosely on the horizontal portions of the U-shaped members, and a box-like member open at the top secured to the lower band to enclose the perforated member and adapted to hold a humidifying substance.

10. A holder for packages comprising an upper band and a lower band, posts connecting the bands at the sides and U-shaped members connecting the lower band at the front and back with the horizontal portions thereof extendin appreciably below the lower band, a perforated plate resting loosely on the horizontal portions of the U-shaped members, and a box-like member open at the top secured to the lower band to enclose the perforated member, the bottom of the box-like member being spaced from the horizontal portions of the U-shaped members to provide a space for holding a humidifying substance.

11. In combination with a package containing a substance to be humidified and having an open lower end, a holder of skeleton framework for such package, said holder so formed as to permit free access of humidified air to the open end of the package, a container for a humidifying substance secured to the holder adjacent the lower end in such manner as to hide the lower edges of the package from view.

12. In c mbination with a package containing a substance to be humidified and having an open lower end, a holder of skeleton framework for such package, said holder having a perforated lowerend for supporting the package and its contents and permitting access of humidified gas to the said contents, and a box-like container open at the top for containing a humidifying agent secured to the holder adjacent. the lower end, the sides of the container extending upwardly by an appreciable distance above the lower end edges of the package,

13. In combination with a package holder of skeleton framework having a lower end permitting free access of humidified gases to the pack- ,age and a wire-like band encircling the holder adjacent the lower end, a box-like container open at the top for containing a humidifying agent, inturned hook-like members secured to a side of the container adapted to engage said band for hingedly supporting the container, and a spring detent secured adjacent the edge of another side of the container and adapted to engage the said band to maintain the container in its desired position relative to the holder.

14. In combination, a skeleton framework, a package fitting within said skeleton framework, a cover for the top of said skeleton framework to hold the package and its contents in place in said skeleton framework, and a humidifying device secured to the lower end of said skeleton framework, said humidifying device enclosing the lower end of said package in said skeleton framework in a manner to discharge its vapors up into said package, a portion of the bottom of said package being removed to receive said vapors.

15. A package holder comprising a skeleton framework, a removable perforated plate near the lower end for supporting a package and permitting access of humidifying gas to the contents of said package, and a box-like member detachably connected to the lower end of said holder and extending above the lower end of a package contained in the holder, said perforated plate being provided with cutting means for detaching the end of said package upon being inserted into position.

16. A package holder comprising a skeleton framework, a removable perforated plate near the lower end for supporting a package and permitting access of humidifying gas to the contents of said package, a box-like member detachably connected to the lower end of said holder and extending above the lower end of a package contained in the holder, said perforated plate being provided with cutting means for detaching the end of said package upon being inserted into position, and guide means for said plate.

JOHN BARRY RYAN. 

